The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-04
A CARD FROM MAJOR BACON.

EDITORS CONSTITUTION; Reluctant as am
at this time TO appear before the public for any pur-
pose whatsoever failurs my part to notice some
things which are reported TO have been said in the
house of representatives III 4 morning during the
debate on the question of the disposition OF tho
State road might subject me to misconstruction by
many to whose good opinion am not Indifferent.
The resolutions introduced by Mr.. Harrison, OF
Qutman, were drawn by me under the following
circumstances: Early during the present session he
as&edfny opinion as to the disposition which should
be made OF the state road at the expiration Of tho
present lease, and as to the action which should be
taken by the present Leg allure relative thereto
replied INT was earnestly opposed to the sao Of
the road, and that as earnestly favored its being
again leased. also stated to him uat / thought
the present Legislature should not attempt to sellit
10 lease It, but that 1t should take the necessary
stature tho fiost , m iio,, by which the latter
would, when Il came TO deal withthe question, DO
highest interest of the state. l said that while
was personally In favor of the lease and opposed
IN the state who earnestly favored Its sale aud that
therefore IN my opinion the present legislature
could with proprety take steps to inform the people
the ra1c could be leased and also the terms upori
which 1t could be sold The design was that the
great body of the people, who have Alright to know
all about this matter could act hdyisedIy when they
come to select their Legislators in the fall of1sSs
personal end Tequesed me to draft or f HIM ree
buttons embodying these views and PURPOSES did
SO as matter of personal favor to him. and with nd
tho legislature.
| have not seen the resolutions since they wera
drafted, some two months or more ago, Ny reeola
lection OF them Is In substance as follows:
3, FIRST That the governor should, by certain
date, advertise for bids for the lease of the road.
Second. That the governor should, by certain
date advertise for bids for the purchase OF the road
Third. That the governor should In July, 1881
publish 10 the people of Georgia the bids
SO received bot fol the lease and for the sale of tho
road IN order thgl they might have tho desired I'M.
formation when they chose their legislators two or
three months later $40 ftI
If Il is error to desire that the whole people Of
Georgia, of every class and grade shall be fully irig
formed as TO the value of their property and what
is the most that can be obtained for II either by sa9
or by lease, then ave erred in wishing that they
might be furnished with this information. msy
be wrong, bnt nevertheless IL is my opinion that alt
the psople of the state have the right, and should
polls next year. and that the fullest pofsble inforg
nation should be given them before that time.
should not deem this publication necessary wera'
It not that the charge was made in the debate that
favored the sale ofthe road For eighteen months
past have stated publicly and privately, that /,
was opposed to the sale of the road, and that
favored its being leased and word has beeII
uttered by me 10 any one inconsistent with this poP
sition If had had regard solely for my own oplnio
] would, in the resolutions have limited the inl
quiry TO the amount for which the road could be
leased. But knew that many differed from me in
this regard and favored tho sale i was OF opiniou
that the inquiry shoud. therefore, be also extended
to the amount for which the road could be sold In
so doing, simply recognized that those who differ
cd from me were not necessarily wrong in their COM
illusions or impure In their motives.
repeat that regret having been thus unexpeet}
eddy forced before the public; and / little thought
this morning, while engaged In the trial of law
case In this city, that my nanna
was then being made tho subject
Of criticism In tbs house Of representatives. 10
those who ascribed unworthy motives to me viii
make no reply. Perhaps In cooler moments they
viii recognize the injustice Of words spoken in tho
heat OF debate may be pardoned, however, for
saying that, If during the twelve years In which
has The honor 20 serve the state In that hall,
there was ever whisper or breath Of suspicion
which In any manner however slight connected my
namo with any jObbery Of any kind whatloeYeritiI
not yet too late 10 Inform the public of the same
Respectfully,
Atlanta September 30. 1887. A. O. BACON.